A new police report offers a detailed account of the moment a shopper was robbed, beaten and shot at in the parking lot of a south Fulton County grocery store.
The incident happened about midnight Wednesday, which is one hour before closing time at the Kroger on Old National Highway, according to the report.
The customer, described as a 47-year-old College Park resident, was putting groceries in his car when two armed robbers walked up to him, demanded his wallet and cellphone, and pistol-whipped him, Fulton police said.
“I’m just minding my own business,” the victim told the robbers. “I’m trying to go home. Just leave me alone.”
The encounter started when one of the men asked the victim for his car keys and he refused, according to the report.
“Give me your wallet instead,” the robber said.
At that point, the victim started resisting.
“Stop moving or (I’m going to have to) kill you,” one of the robbers told him.
The robber then snatched at the victim’s wallet, causing it to fall. An accomplice picked it up and one of the men cocked a firearm, according to the report.
“Open your car,” one of the men said. “We going to ride together. I should kill you right now for resisting.”
The robber hit the victim on the left side of his head, police said.
He started walking quickly toward the Kroger, and that’s when he heard at least one gunshot and saw the grocery store window shatter, according to the police report.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Fulton County police officer Sherton Hutchins, who was in the area doing a business check, heard the shot.
The officer then saw two men in gray clothes sprint across Old National Highway. Hutchens ran toward the victim while others searched the area for the two robbers, police said.
They have not been found.
Detectives are now looking at surveillance video for clues into who the robbers are. Kroger spokesman Felix Turner told Channel 2 Action News that store officials were “in full cooperation with local authorities to provide any information as they investigate the incident.”
In a statement, he said Kroger is committed to providing a secure environment for all customers.
“As part of this commitment,” Turner said, “Kroger has invested in several measures at the Old National Highway location, including in-store security, security patrol in the parking lot, surveillance equipment and associate training. “
Shopper Delessia Kincade told Channel 2 the details of the robbery are frightening.
"You should be able to shop for your family without fearing for your life," Kincade said.
Still, she said the area is a good community.
“You have people that just go to work everyday,” Kincade said. “And all they want to do is take care of their families.”
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